Gun duel with Cult Kingpin: Police declare manhunt for Cult kingpin in Rivers

Eric Olusesan/Port Harcourt.

Operatives of Anti-Cultism of the  Rivers State Police Command have been deployed to some Communities in Emohua Local Government Area to hunt down suspected cultists that engaged the Police on Saturday along Emohua axis of the East-West Road. 

Travellers and Staff of Emohua local government Council located along the East-West road scampered for safety and others stranded as a suspected notorious Cult gang leader and his men engaged the Police in gun duel.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the Spokesperson of the Rivers State Police command, confirmed that  there was an exchange of gunfire between some criminal elements and the Police tactical units who were deployed to that area.

SP Iringe-Koko said police overpowered the criminals later fled the scene after about 30 minutes exchange of fire between the Police and hoodlums.

However, Eyewitnesses say motorists were stranded for over thirty minutes during the shootout. They said many people fled into nearby bushes, while motorists quickly made a detour to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

A native of Elibrada who spoke anonymously said trouble started when a suspected cult kingpin and his members ran into a Police patrol team. He said the suspected kingpin has been terrorizing the area.

Our Correspondent reports that after some relative peace in the Council area with rigging of security architecture by the local government Chairman, Dr Chidi Lloyd, the Saturday incident and regular occurrence of kidnapping of Commuters on the Emohua-Kalabari road are clear signs the criminals are back.